Everything that Sir Richard Branson creates has a Midas Touch, so one should expect pretty amazing things from his newly opened Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX.
The airline has invested nearly $4 million in giving its flyers a high-end pre-flight experience. The lounge was created by the same team—a blend of in-house designers in partnership with Slade Architecture—that designed Virgin Atlantic’s iconic Clubhouses at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
The 4,000 square foot lounge is just as luxe as its American predecessors, but has a distinctly SoCal vibe. Design elements are inspired by the West Coast landscape, with accents of gold to reflect our traditional California sunshine. The walls are adorned with one-of-a-kind artwork, including an installation by innovative California artist Diana Reichenbach, as well as work by up-and-coming British artists. T
The centerpiece of the lounge is an apothecary-inspired bar featuring fabulous cocktails, as well as healthy juice options infused with seeds and spices. Spaces for relaxing and socializing are framed by panoramic views that span from the aircraft just outside the window to the iconic Hollywood sign and the mountains beyond. Fully WiFi-enabled, the lounge provides all the tools that fliers need to get work done before taking off, while delighting them with surprising details in the design.
Even better, Virgin Atlantic has partnered with fabulous LA eatery Hinoki & the Bird to design an innovative food and drink concept inspired by clean, healthy California living. The full-service menu, which is complementary for guests, features three of Hinoki & the Bird’s signature dishes (including the green papaya salad, chili crab toast and miso donuts) as well as three of their fantastic cocktails of which include the Matcha Rickey—gin, matcha, lime and Thai basil—Harajuku, Japanese whiskey, gran classico, byrrh quinquina & chocolate bitters—and Penicillin, Scotch whiskey, fresh ginger syrup, fresh lemon juice and honey with an Islay float.
Additionally, those who check into the Virgin Clubhouse at Terminal 2, guests can expect a refreshed check-in area, the introduction of a meet-and-greet chauffeur drop-off service and, starting on May 5, services from LA to London on Virgin Atlantic’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The quieter, more fuel efficient Dreamliner brings with it a cutting edge product for passengers, complemented by enhancements to the overall customer experience.
HINOKI & THE BIRD’S VIRGIN ATLANTIC CLUBHOUSE DISHES
Haute Scene
April 29, 2015RJ Mitte Spins at Chateau
